Have the words, “I have nothing to wear!” ever come out of your mouth while you have been standing in front of your wardrobe bursting with clothes? Do you find yourself wearing the same things over and over because you only have a few things that make you feel great? Do you feel crowded out by all the stuff in your closets?

What if there was a simpler and more thoughtful way to create a wardrobe that shows who you are and suits you in every way?

Well, there is! You just need to answer some questions:-

What is your ‘Look’? Choose clothes that suit who you are. Don’t buy clothes that don’t emphasise the beauty of you.

What shape and style of clothes work for you? Work out your best features and do some research into clothing styles that suit your body shape. We are all different and we should aim to dress to flatter our shapes. It will save you lots of time over your lifetime to know what suits your shape and why.

Do you know the colours that make you come alive? Not everyone can (or should) wear peach, but, on some people, it looks amazing! There are lots of books and courses you can do that help work out what colours suit you best. You can even commandeer your friends to help. This will make quick work of choosing clothes.

Do you need to de-clutter your wardrobe? I think we all probably need to! Takeeverythingout of your wardrobe/drawers/shelves and arrange into piles on your bed or floor. Make a pile for things you need to throw out. Another pile for things that you could give away, sell or swap. The things you love, neatly put back in your wardrobe!

Now assess where you are at. Think about what you need and whether those needs are covered. If you work full time you may not need five pairs of jeans, but you may need a few pairs of tailored pants. If you are at school, you may not need six jackets, but you may need some cute jeans for the weekend. If you live in the mountains, you may not need eight swimsuits, but you may need a jacket for cold snaps.

When it comes time to shop for new things, be really careful about what you put back into your wardrobe. Think about your style, your shape and the colours that work for you. A few fun current trends are great, but build your wardrobe on good quality items. Think about shopping in charity stores, as some people give away high-end designer clothes that can be snaffled up with your small change. These purchases are also a way to stand out from the crowd and be more you!

With all the clothes that you culled from your wardrobe, here are some ideas for what you can do with them:-

Charity Stores - there are sure to be some bins in your city. If you have a lot of stuff to get rid of, some charity stores are happy to come and collect from your house.

Swap with friends - arrange a girls’ night where everyone brings a few items of clothing or accessories that they no longer want, you can then trade with your friends.

eBay or Gumtree - set up an account (you do have to be over 18 but perhaps an older family member would let you use their account). Take some great pictures and get selling!

Garage Sale - watch for ads or ask friends or family if they know of one happening and start getting your goods priced and ready.

Clothes are the first part of your story that you tell people. It is their first glimpse into who you are. Choose items that make you feel amazing and build a wardrobe that is easy to navigate and shows off the best you. And don’t forget to keep some track pants and your favourite old t-shirt for those times you just need to be totally comfortable!